Purported to be a towering human-like figure covered in shaggy fur, the Yeti continues to excite dedicated believers still hoping for evidence that the mythical beast is real. Now, DNA analysis of multiple supposed Yeti samples—including hair, teeth, fur, and feces—shows that the stories are based on real animals roaming the high mountains. The results are the best evidence yet that the Yeti legend is rooted in black and brown bears. With this new study, the team has been able to create a new family tree of vulnerable subspecies of Asian bears, which may prove useful in efforts to protect the animals.

Learn more about what these findings mean by reading our full story here.

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